big desision to make

[japimport]

hi everyone i have a c200 sport 95 it has 118,000 miles on her 86,000 serviced done by mercedes i have a problem like many w202 owners (rust) my 4 aches are rusty one is really bad and on the lip of the boot beside lock since ive got the car ive being puting money into it new exhaust,timing tensioner fan belt etc ive known the rust was there when i bought it but now its dawnng on me after reading threads about rust issues that its going to cost me a fortune to get it right,and i dont no what to do can i repair it myself?or should i just just walk away from her and cut my loses

 

[jaymanek]

its very difficult to assess without seeing the car but yes if its very bad then it can get expensive.
Take it to a few bodyshops and see what they say.

W202's dont rust that badly though..

 

[japimport]

theres about an inch ot rust all the way around the arch the paint has flaked of the arch, well i priced two new wings today its 100 euro for the two there afte market ones so how much do you think it will be to get them sprayed roughly

 

[gina2201]

Depending on where you go, I would estimate about £40-£50 a panel. Only trouble with aftermarket/pattern parts are they don't often fit as well and may require adjustment to fit, which in turn takes longer, and perhaps costs more...?

Luckily for me, a friend of the family is a body shop/sprayer so I'm getting a few bits on the golf done soon!

 

[japimport]

thanks for the reply id probably better of buying to wings out of the scrap yard then at least they will definetly fit ill have to shop around for prices and see how much itl cost ill try and get some pics up of the rust so yous can see how bad it is

 

[gina2201]

I'd get a few quotes on the arches as it is, might not be too bad, I had a bit of work done on my C200 and it was just over £300. (For a few bits and a hole caused by a rock). Is it true that once it takes a hold you're fighting a losing battle, as in, it will come back? Not sure about this because if it's done properly it shouldn't return, surely?

Could always try ebay aswell for parts/breakers as they advertise alot on there, and obviously local scrappies

 

[japimport]

im going to take some pictures in a min and ill put them so you can see the damage

 

[japimport]

here is the rust pictures

the chrome arches is to hide the rust as yous most know

 

[japimport]

looking at the pictures do yous think its going to be dear to repair

 

[Dieselman]

That looks like surface rust so will cost in paint and labour but shouldn't cost in parts, unless it's significantly worse under the trims.

 

[gina2201]

That doesn't look too bad, I was expecting worse! Shouldn't cost too much to put right....

 

[japimport]

so you think its not that bad thats nice to hear ive never seen rust on any car ive had so i was panicking i just want the car to be right hopefully it wont cost to much

 

[KillerHERTZ]

1 of my arches is/was that bad as yours - and mine is a 1999 model!. I spend 6 days doing my rust on my wheel arches.

It took 3 whole days to sand the metal down the sheet metal (no black spots) and other 3 days for Primer, Paint, Laquer.

I had already done one of the arches 15 months ago and it still hasnt returned, all going well I should get at least that amount of time out of the other 3 before it returns.

 

[gina2201]

so you think its not that bad thats nice to hear ive never seen rust on any car ive had so i was panicking i just want the car to be right hopefully it wont cost to much

Nope, certainly seen worse, my golf for one, and that's coming in for less than a few hundred £££ to sort. (well £50 and a car!) I would get a few quotes so you can compare, or go on recommendation. Prices can vary a bit.

 

[Dieselman]

Nope, certainly seen worse, my golf for one, and that's coming in for less than a few hundred £££ to sort. (well £50 and a car!)

They paid you £50 as well as a Koala..? You were done.

 

[gina2201]

They paid you £50 as well as a Koala..? You were done.

Ha, maybe...

 

[japimport]

thanks or replys im just of to work now, killerhertz could you tell me what you used etc to do your arches i might do all the prep work and then get some one to fnish it with the painting or will i just leave it to the body shop thanks

 

[japimport]

can anybody give me a guide to do the prep work on my arches what i need and what to do id really appreciate it thanks ill leave the painting to the experts

 

[japimport]

doing it myself

hi im in the process of doing my rusty arches myself as it will be to expensive to get it done in bodyshop(they said it wouldnt be worth doing as the car is to old and itll be expensive) so im doing i myself ill post up pictures when its done i have it sanded and primed at the momment (i didnt take pictures) but ill take pictures of it finished hopefully all goes well

 

[jaymanek]

If your car is flat black, ive seen some pretty impressive results from a spray can..